Castle — Stephenstown

Situated in low-lying undulating countryside and constructed of roughly coursed limestone blocks, boulders and greywacke. It is an ivy-covered three-storeyed structure which has been modernised by small additions to the SE and SW corners, with an added doorway and outer steps at the S leading to the first-floor level. It has a projecting tower at the NE angle which contains the stairwell and one at the SW which projects southwards and contained the garderobes. The original doorway, which has been broken out, was just S of the NE angle-tower in the E wall. It gave access to a N-S barrel vault and to the stairwell. There are double-splayed opes in the N and W walls and the remains of a much-altered one in the S wall at ground-floor level. Access to the first floor is gained via a relatively recently constructed outside stair and doorway. The windows have also been altered and brick has been added to the entrance to the stairwell from this level. There is a fireplace in the E wall and a chimney flue in the S which runs up from the barrel vault to the top of the castle. The windows at first-floor level have all been broken out, but that at the W retains its window seating while the one in the E wall has a single-splayed ope. The garderobe is in the SW tower and access is now gained from the outside steps. The original entrance, which must have been in its N wall, has been completely blocked. The chute at the first-floor level is recessed in a semi-circular niche in the NW angle of the chamber. The garderobe has a corbelled roof and plain rectangular opes in the S and W walls. No access is possible to the level above and no doorway can be seen which would indicate if a garderobe existed on the second floor. The second-floor level has the remains of windows in its W, N and E walls. Those in the W and N have the remains of seating while that at the E almost certainly also had but it is now completely blocked up. This floor level was carried on beams set on corbels. The top portion of the castle has been destroyed but there is evidence for towers at the NE and SW angles rising above the roof level. There are several cubby-holes in the first- and second-floor levels, two being in the NW angle and two in the SE. The NE angle-tower which contains the stairwell has slit opes with plain greywacke jambs. (Stubbs 1911, 358) The above description is derived from both the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1986) and the 'Archaeological Survey of County Louth' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1991). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 17 July 2007